I like the way Supersports Super Wrap puts it "Many Boks and not alot of Spring". I must admit the Blue Bulls find themselves in a mighty deep hole and to be honest it’s through their own doing. Two weeks ago I said and I quote "Too many Springboks in the Bulls setup..." but I'm beginning to think it’s the Springboks that’s their achilles heel. Let me explain my last two statements, the Bulls are playing the old springbok 'game plan' that won them (the Boks) two World Cups. Kick for position and work up front from there and as Saturday would show you is that the Stormers took full advantage of being, in my opinion being given the balls over and over and over again and the worst part for the Bulls is they KEPT AT IT even though they could see that it was not working. The Bulls have now lost two on the trot and there Vodacom Cup team have lost their first FOUR fixtures, so the problems in Pretoria run deep (pardon the pun). Not to mention Gurthro Steenkamp’s is sidelined for between 6 - 12 weeks with a recurrence of the injury to the same arm he broke last year. Frans Ludeke can count himself lucky to have Bakkies Botha available this weekend in a match the Loftus faithful would expect them to win against the Yo-yo, Up and Down Lions.
The Sharks have benefitted from the Bulls loyalty to their Springboks and now have experienced JL Potgieter available in place of unfortunate Pat Lambie for their match away from the Crusaders home. The pin in Lambie's Finger will be removed in about 4 weeks, which would give Potgieter a good run out against Saders, Stormers and the Lions, I do feel he is a better kicker and good enough to fill the youngster's shoes but the rhythm and combinations will be affected by the new pivot this weekend in London. (Lets not forget when the Sharks signed JL he was to be The Sharks number 10). The Stormers host the Force this week and the Sharks in Durban next and it would be interesting to see if they can be as disciplined on the field and most importantly defensively as they have been this season and continue to win. Almost forgot about the Cheetah's (sorry CHEE less TAHS) after their first win in Australia last week, left the Australian commentators fuming and close to name calling the man of the match Heinrich Brüssow, and scrum half Pretorius who were the reason they dismantled the Tah's at home and it looks Brüssow wasn’t just coming back from injury.
Arguably the Crusaders toughest SuperRugby match yet this season and everyone one would want to see if the Saders can too out think the Sharks as the Chiefs did last week. I expect the home (pardon the New Zealand team) to win it in the end. Besides the Saders the Hurricanes travel to the Melbourne Rebels and the Chiefs host the Blues in Hamilton. Let me not predict a winner in Australia but as to not sit on the fence I would like the Canes to win after their loss to the Blues and because well you can’t really bet on which Rebels team will pitch up come Saturday. A Chiefs win would be considered an upset even though they are at home but coach Ian Foster would expect nothing less especially since the Highlanders are guaranteed four points this week (with a bye) and them being two points ahead of the Chief in the New Zealand Conference already anything less than a win will see the Chief falling far behind the rest of the pack and we only in round five. The three times champions Blues had a good win last week and though the score line might have been flattering they took there changes and that’s all they need to do for me to at least get an away win.
I will refrain from picking a match of the weekend to watch because torrential rain spoiled the Chief vs Sharks contest and I wouldn’t want torrential rain at Tickenham.
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